JAK cream gears up to enter the hidradenitis suppurativa battlefield
AI-translated from the Chinese original · editorially reviewed
Incyte's JAK inhibitor cream Opzelura has posted solid results in moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS).
JAK: Janus kinase, HS: hidradenitis suppurativa
How effective is Opzelura in HS? (1/2)
The abscesses and inflammatory nodules of HS cause patients tremendous suffering and lead to irreversible tissue damage and scarring.
Phase 2 clinical data showed that, compared with placebo, twice-daily Opzelura significantly reduced abscesses and inflammatory nodules (AN) by week 16.
AN: Abscesses and inflammatory nodule
How effective is Opzelura in HS? (2/2)
79% of participants on Opzelura reduced their total AN count by more than 50%, and over 20% of patients achieved completely clear skin. Most patients even achieved an HS clinical response.
HS clinical response: at least a 50% reduction in AN count with no increase in abscesses or draining fistulas
What company leadership says
Jim Lee, Incyte's Group Vice President of Inflammation and Autoimmunity, said: "Despite the daily suffering patients endure, the standard therapies available to date have been inadequate. Today's Opzelura data represent major progress in HS research and offer patients an effective treatment option to better control their disease."
Safety data acceptable so far
Two patients discontinued the trial, but there were no treatment-related serious adverse events.
What is Opzelura?
Opzelura is the cream version of Incyte's star drug Jakafi. Opzelura was approved for atopic dermatitis in 2021 and for vitiligo the following year.
Opzelura is currently the only approved JAK inhibitor cream in the United States, but Leo Pharma's delgocitinib is eyeing the market, having recently reported strong Phase 3 results in chronic hand eczema.
Does Incyte have other weapons?
In development is oral povorcitinib, which in a Phase 2 trial significantly improved disease severity and itch in patients with prurigo nodularis (NP).
NP: Nodularis prurigo
Opzelura's future plans and outlook
Opzelura brought the company USD 338 million in sales in 2023 and has been hailed by company leadership as the best recent dermatology launch. Next, the company plans to evaluate its efficacy in prurigo nodularis (NP).